It has been a few months since the last MundoMix. However, this time off has been productive in seeking and exploring new artist and new music. Some of those findings are included in the musical material for this MundoMix edition.

We are glad to have 'discover' artists like NNeka and Bongo Batrako. Nneka is a young german/nigerian singer with an amazing voice and style who mixes musical genres and influences to create a powerful and compelling brand of music. Bongo Botrako an indie band from Tarragona, Spain who in 2010 released their first album (Todos los dias sale el sol). Bongo Botrako mixes genres such as reggae, cumbia, ska, punk with a high dosage of enery and optimist lyrics. We also ran into a soca version/remix of Gyptian's hit Hold Yuh (Hold You). Great work.

Two greats from the African music scene teamed up to give us a super collaboration. They are duo of Amandou & Mariam and somali/Canadian star Knaan. Mali and Ethiopia combine in what they dub 'the original west coast/east coast collaboration'. Some mixes work and some do not. This one is a sure winner. You might recall Knaan from his 2010 World Cup anthem Wavin' Flag.

Just to make sure this MMx selection hits the spot, we have rounded things up with music from mythical artists such as the late Gregory Isaacs, magic brazilian trio Tribalistas, and Caribbean super group Wganda-Kenya. From Panama, we have included Osvaldo Ayala and his accordeon. Believe me, this is accordeon music you can jam to.

Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez (born November 29, 1946 in San Antonio de los Baños) is a Cuban musician, and a leader of the nueva trova movement. He is known for his highly eloquent and symbolic lyrics. Many of his songs have become classics in Latin American music, such as Ojalá, Playa Girón, Unicornio and La maza. Rodríguez, musically and politically, is a symbol of the Latin American left. Several of his songs praise the revolutionary figure Che Guevara (and he is also currently a deputy in the Cuban parliament). His lyrics, however, are unusual on the left for being notably introspective. His songs combine romanticism, love (even eroticism), revolutionary politics, and idealism. (BBC)

Silvio Rodriguez's body of works is notable as much for its quality, as for its extension. From Silvio's prolific repertoire we have selected pieces with a rich rhythmic based, rooted in traditional Cuban music, and by definition, danceable.

]]>Silvio Rodríguez Domínguez (born November 29, 1946 in San Antonio de los Baños) is a Cuban musician, and a leader of the nueva trova movement. He is known for his highly eloquent and symbolic lyrics. Many of his songs have become classics in Latin American music, such as Ojalá, Playa Girón, Unicornio and La maza. Rodríguez, musically and politically, is...https://360cafe.typepad.com/360cafe/2011/08/71-entrega-simplemente-silvio-simply-silvio.html70va Entrega - Dancehall Reggaehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/360cafe/~3/NpJnXyuwaJE/70va-entrega-dancehall-reggae.htmlReggaeBarrington LevyCutty Ranksdance halldancehallEcho MinottJamaicaNadine SutherlandPan HeadReggaeroots and cultureSister NancyTerror Fabolous Apache Indian Super CatTerry GanzieLuchoSun, 22 May 2011 03:01:27 PDTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e5518a3d54883301543275c300970c

From a BBC article

So named because so many of the records were deemed unfit for radio airplay and therefore were suitable only for the dancehall. And the controversy didn’t stop there. Dancehall reggae established itself through characters like Yellowman and General Echo and a penchant for slackness (as bawdy lyrics were known). This deejay-led, largely computerized, upstart music seemed to epitomise the 1980s with dub poet Mutabaruka maintaining, "if 1970s reggae was red, greed and gold, then in the next decade it was gold chains". So far removed was it from the gentle, almost hippification of roots and culture, that purists furiously debated as to whether it was genuinely reggae or not.

But this was the whole point. Dancehall represented a new generation of reggae’s primary audience reclaiming the music for themselves after ten years of roots’n’culture that: A) had not done a great deal to change the way they lived; and B) it had been adopted so thoroughly by the international mainstream it didn’t seem like "theirs" any more. This was a new wave’s way of reacting to the harshness of their environment and drew on hip hop’s brashness to express themselves with an impatience not seen in roots reggae. It needed a radical approach to shake reggae out of its seeming complacency and dancehall opted for the apparently obnoxious to satisfy nobody beyond the sound system crowds. Producers like Henry Junjo Lawes and King Jammy’s made deejay records that were as raw as those audiences wanted, with deejays like Yellowman, Josey Wales, Lone Ranger, Eek-A-Mouse and Brigadier Jerry. Not that it was all deejays, but singers such as Barrington Levy, Little John, Cocoa Tea and Frankie Paul had to struggle to be heard.

Of course the rapidly developing studio technology played a big part as it meant records could be made quicker and cheaper, with it becoming far easier to version a rhythm once it was made. This in turn allowed a flood of new talent into the business ensuring that dancehall reggae would continue to stay fresh for years to come.

]]>From a BBC article So named because so many of the records were deemed unfit for radio airplay and therefore were suitable only for the dancehall. And the controversy didn’t stop there. Dancehall reggae established itself through characters like Yellowman and General Echo and a penchant for slackness (as bawdy lyrics were known). This deejay-led, largely computerized, upstart music seemed...https://360cafe.typepad.com/360cafe/2011/05/70va-entrega-dancehall-reggae.html69va Entrega - Salsa Real/Real Salsa - Video Editionhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/360cafe/~3/1CR2b3odgp8/salsa-real.htmlSalsaVideoCheo FelicianoDimension LatinaHector LaVoeJohnny PachecoLa Sonora PoncenaPete Conde RodriguezRay Barretttosalsa clasicavideoWillie ColonLuchoWed, 30 Mar 2011 08:21:31 PDTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e5518a3d548833014e6015d9b0970c

The original concept for the 360Cafe.net is an audio blog. However, in occassions we have included videos as a way to change things a little bit and take advantage of the combination of the audio visual format and great music.

In this occassion we present an all video edition as way to document the greatness of classic salsa music and the unique talent of some of its most representative artists. Let us know what you think about the all video format, we might use more of it in the future.

We have selected six classic salsa jewels. Worth highlighting are the performance of the great Yolanda Rivera with La Sonora Poncena, La Dimension Latina, the late Ray Barretto, Johnny Pacheco and Pete 'Conde' Rodriguez (including the later's daughter in background vocals), and Willie Colon and Hector LaVoe duo during their heydays.

Carnival is a public celebration taking place immediately before the Christian Lent (the actual date varies from the end of January to the begining of March, depending on the year) and combines elements like customs, parades, and street parties. In spite of major differences in its celebration around the world, carnivals common denominator es that it is a period of permisiveness and celebrational mayhem.

The world's biggest carnival celebration is in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil). However, other important carnival celebrations around the world are the Venice Carnival (Italy), Carnaval de Barranquilla (Colombia), and Mardi Gra (New Orleans, USA). In the Caribbean, carnivals in Trinidad, Aruba, and Panama are worth noting.

We can hardly talk about carnival without talking about music, of course. Music is a common and essential element in any carnival celebration. That is why this MundoMix edition is dedicated to the music of carnival.

To kick things off, the musica of the Rio Carnival. Each samba school has a song, this is the song the schools parades to during its carnival participation. We include three of the so-called 'sambas de enredo', which is what this particular songs are called. We also include a representative song of the Carnaval de Barranquilla (by Cheo Acosta) and two soca songs from the carnival in Trinidad. From the Aruba Carnival, we have a song by Robert Jeandor. Although celebrated in a different context since advent of the Revolution, carnival in Cuba is celebrated during the months of June/July. Conga is a the main rhythm of the Cuban carnival and of course, it could not be missing from our carnival music showcase.

]]>Carnival is a public celebration taking place immediately before the Christian Lent (the actual date varies from the end of January to the begining of March, depending on the year) and combines elements like customs, parades, and street parties. In spite of major differences in its celebration around the world, carnivals common denominator es that it is a period of...https://360cafe.typepad.com/360cafe/2011/02/68va-entrega-mundomix-18-carnival-time-.html67ma Entrega - Rock Latino / Latin Rockhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/360cafe/~3/pOXnLrgxGuk/67ma-entrega-rock-latino-latin-rock.htmlRockalex cubafitojarabe de palojuana molinajuanesmacacorockrock en espanolrock latinoLuchoMon, 31 Jan 2011 13:36:17 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e5518a3d5488330148c830adfc970c

We have chosen Latin Rock to kick-off this 2011. Among the different styles of Latin Rock, the one we like the most is the rhytmic variety, soft but percussive, and almost always with a little mixture of Latin American and Caribbean genres.

In this edition we have included music from three renowed Spanish artists/bands (Fito y Los Fitipaldis, Macaco, Jarabe de Palo), Juanes, and Alex Cuba (Cuban artist base in Canada). Also, music from two artist who we have just recently 'discovered': Kevin Johansen and Juana Molina (both from Argentina).

Another year ends and another year of great music at 360Cafe.net. To wave farewell to this 2010 we have prepared this MundoMix edition. We have selected a representative mix of music reflective of the essence of what 360Cafe.net is. Artists from Cuba, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Spain, Nigeria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Colombia, and Argentina. Afro-beat, reggae, salsa, porro, jit jive, forro, flamenco. A great mix of styles, rhythms, voices, genres -- maximum diversity, with common denominators: creativity, quality, and genius.

Thanks for your support in 2010 and our commitment for our best efforts to continue sharing with you what we consider the best of world music.

]]>Another year ends and another year of great music at 360Cafe.net. To wave farewell to this 2010 we have prepared this MundoMix edition. We have selected a representative mix of music reflective of the essence of what 360Cafe.net is. Artists from Cuba, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Spain, Nigeria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Colombia, and Argentina. Afro-beat, reggae, salsa, porro, jit jive, forro, flamenco....https://360cafe.typepad.com/360cafe/2010/12/65ta-entrega-mundomix-adios-2010farewell-2010.html65ta Entrega - AfroCubism/AfroCubismohttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/360cafe/~3/U9CqPlH2s7Q/65ta-entrega-afrocubismafrocubismo.htmlAfricanaCubanaAfro-CubismAfroCubismBassekou KouyateCubaCuba Meets MaliDjelimady TounkaraEliades OchoaGrupo PatriaKasse Mady DiabateMaliToumani DiabateLuchoFri, 04 Feb 2011 01:43:33 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e5518a3d5488330133f63fa1a6970b

In 1996, British producer Nick Gold tried to convene top musicians from West Africa and Cuba to see what would happen. But his musical summit fell apart when the Africans failed to show up in Havana. Gold's team scrambled and came up with the multimillion-selling Buena Vista Social Club instead. Now, years later, Gold has returned to his initial idea, and the result is the new album AfroCubism.

Deep history underlies the musical interplay on AfroCubism. For starters, Cuban music is fundamentally rooted in African traditions. Moreover, in the early '60s, French West African countries such as Mali and Guinea tended to the Soviet side of Cold War politics. Their governments sent local musicians to Havana for training. They came home and taught their countrymen how to make a new kind of music.

AfroCubism features Kasse Mady Diabate, a golden-throated griot — or praise musician — from Mali. Though raised in African tradition, he sang in one of Mali's top Afro-Latin bands during the '70s. You might say his whole life has led up to the AfroCubism project. That's also true for guitarist Djelimady Tounkara, another griot, and a guy who learned guitar in part by accompanying Cuban hits on the radio.

Tounkara is one of four virtuoso instrumentalists in AfroCubism's Malian contingent. Heading up the Cuban faction is Eliades Ochoa, who sings and plays the tres, a guitar-like instrument. Ochoa sang the signature Buena Vista Social Club hit "Chan Chan," and he provides similarly folksy songs for AfroCubism.

Though most of these musicians are Africans, the grooves tend more to the Cuban side. Even when the African dimension comes to the fore, you still feel the propulsive force of that distinctly Cuban bass.

By tradition, Malian and Cuban music relies on highly disciplined distribution of musical roles, but both leave lots of room for improvisation. Within these joyful jams, form and structure sometimes give way to freewheeling interplay.

And consider this: Five of the key musicians here are used to calling the shots as leaders of their own bands. AfroCubism is a summit of giants at play — their egos in check, their hearts open and the tangled history of two worlds flowing through their veins.

Soca musician Alphonsus "Arrow" Cassell, best known for his dancefloor anthem Hot Hot Hot, has died at the age of 60. He died of complications from brain cancer at his home on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, his brother said.

Despite its earworm refrain - "Ole, ole, ole, ole, feeling hot, hot hot!" - Arrow's most famous song failed to make the UK top 40 on release in 1983. A 1994 remix reached number 38, and the song remains a party favourite. Arrow had one other UK hit with Long Time, which reached number 30 in July 1985.

Justin Cassell said Hot Hot Hot was the highlight of his brother's career and that he "took soca to all corners of the world". In an interview with the AP news agency after Montserrat residents were forced to leave their homes following the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano in 1995, Arrow said: "Soca is dance - 'feeling hot, hot hot'. "It makes you forget that there's a volcano and there's fun to be had."

In the 1980s, Arrow, who was considered Montserrat's most famous citizen, toured Africa, the US, Europe and Japan.

This is a small tribute to one of the greatest artist of the Caribbean.

]]>From the BBC Hot Hot Hot star Arrow dies at 60 Soca musician Alphonsus "Arrow" Cassell, best known for his dancefloor anthem Hot Hot Hot, has died at the age of 60. He died of complications from brain cancer at his home on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, his brother said. Despite its earworm refrain - "Ole, ole, ole, ole,...https://360cafe.typepad.com/360cafe/2010/10/64va-entrega-arrow-groove-master.html63va Entrega - MundoMix #16 (Sonido Urbano/Urban Sound)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/360cafe/~3/2084SSXSI2Q/63va-entrega-mundomix-16-sonido-urbanourban-sound.htmlMundoMixUrbanLuchoThu, 30 Sep 2010 07:19:08 PDTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e5518a3d5488330133f4bd2c68970b

I must admit that I am not a big fan of globalization,
particularly in the cultural and musical arenas.First
of all, the least that we need is the standardization of cultural tendencies; even worse if this standardization is at the
cost of the cultural values and musical and expression forms of the different peoples around
the world.

We see with great satisfaction that globalization forces,
more precisely identified as the musical tendencies of the american gettho (i.e.,
hip-hop), have not been able overcome the strenght of popular culture of the different
peoples around the world.

In this MundoMix edition we showcase the urban sound
from different parts of the world.This is music with a notable American hip-hop influence, but
with the creativeness and virtuosity of 'street' artist who take the hip-hop as a
basic element but mold it and mix it with their own musical and cultural elements to
generate their own sounds, rhythms, and musical tendencies.

To illustrate our points
above, we have music from artists such as: Choc Quib Town, Yeleen, BBK (Big
Born King), Manu Chao, and Gente de Zona, among others.Urban sound from the different corners of the
world.